U.S. patent application number 15/864757 was filed with the patent office on 2019-04-18 for bendable display apparatus and supporting device.
The applicant listed for this patent is FOSITEK CORPORATION. Invention is credited to AN-SZU HSU.
Application Number | 20190112852 15/864757 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 66095631 |
Filed Date | 2019-04-18 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190112852 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HSU; AN-SZU |
April 18, 2019 |
BENDABLE DISPLAY APPARATUS AND SUPPORTING DEVICE
Abstract
A bendable display apparatus includes two supporting devices and
a bendable display mounted on the two supporting devices. Each
supporting device includes a dual-shaft driving module and two
buffering modules respectively arranged at two opposite outer sides
of the dual-shaft driving module. The dual-shaft driving module
includes two shafts parallel to each other and a synchronizing
member sandwiched between the two shafts. Each buffering module
includes an internal connecting member fixed on the synchronizing
member, an external connecting member slidably disposed on the
internal connecting member, and a linkage mechanism configured to
be driven by the synchronizing shaft for moving the external
connecting member relative to the internal connecting member. When
the dual-shaft driving modules are rotated, the bendable display is
bent while a length of the bendable display remains constant, and
each external connecting member is moved relative to the
corresponding internal connecting member.
Inventors: |
HSU; AN-SZU; (NEW TAIPEI
CITY, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FOSITEK CORPORATION |
NEW TAIPEI CITY |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
66095631 |
Appl. No.: |
15/864757 |
Filed: |
January 8, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 16/547 20150115;
E05Y 2900/606 20130101; E05D 11/105 20130101; G06F 1/1652 20130101;
E05D 3/122 20130101; G06F 1/1681 20130101; G06F 1/1641 20130101;
G06F 1/1618 20130101; E05D 3/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E05D 7/00 20060101
E05D007/00; E05D 3/12 20060101 E05D003/12; E05D 11/00 20060101
E05D011/00; F16C 11/10 20060101 F16C011/10; E05D 11/06 20060101
E05D011/06; E05D 11/10 20060101 E05D011/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 13, 2017 |
TW |
106135128 |
Claims
1. A bendable display apparatus, comprising: two supporting devices
each including: a dual-shaft driving module including: two shafts
substantially parallel to each other, wherein each of the two
shafts has a spiral groove recessed on an outer surface thereof and
having a spiral angle within a range of 40 degrees to 60 degrees;
and a synchronizing member including a synchronizing block
sandwiched between the two shafts and a synchronizing shaft
connected to the synchronizing block, wherein the synchronizing
block includes two driving portions respectively protruding from
two opposite side surfaces thereof and respectively coupling with
the spiral grooves of the two shafts, wherein when one of the two
shafts is spun to transmit a force to the synchronizing block, the
synchronizing block rotates the other shaft at the same time by the
force; and two buffering modules respectively arranged at two
opposite outer sides of the dual-shaft hinge module and
respectively installed to the two shafts, each of the two buffering
modules including: an internal connecting member fixed on the
corresponding shaft; an external connecting member slidably
disposed on the internal connecting member; and a linkage mechanism
pivotally connecting to the internal connecting member, wherein the
linkage mechanism is configured to be driven by the synchronizing
shaft for moving the external connecting member relative to the
internal connecting member; wherein in each of the two supporting
devices, the dual-shaft driving module is bendable between an
unfolded position and an outwardly folded position; when the
dual-shaft driving module is at the unfolded position, the
supporting device is a flat structure; when the dual-shaft driving
module is at the outwardly folded position, the supporting device
is a curved structure and the internal members of the two buffering
modules are arranged inside the supporting device; a bendable
display mounted on the two supporting devices, wherein when the
dual-shaft driving module of each of the two supporting devices is
rotated from the unfolded position to the outwardly folded
position, the bendable display is bent while a length of the
bendable display remains constant, and the external connecting
member of each of the buffering modules is moved toward the
corresponding synchronizing member with respect to the internal
connecting member.
2. The bendable display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein in
the dual-shaft driving module of each of the two supporting
devices, an end portion of the synchronizing shaft is fixed to the
synchronizing block, and the other end portion of the synchronizing
shaft has two protrusions respectively configured to drive the
linkage mechanisms of the two buffering modules.
3. The bendable display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein in
each of the buffering modules, the linkage mechanism includes a
first link lever and a second link lever both pivotally connected
to the internal connecting member, an end of the first link lever
is pivotally connected to an end of the second link lever, the
other end of the first link lever is connected to the corresponding
synchronizing shaft, and the other end of the second link lever is
connected to the external connecting member; when the first link
lever is driven by the corresponding synchronizing shaft, the first
link lever and the second link lever are rotated relative to the
internal connecting member, and the rotation of the second link
lever moves the external connecting member relative to the internal
connecting member.
4. The bendable display apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein in
each of the buffering modules, the internal connecting member has
an accommodating slot, and the linkage mechanism is arranged in the
accommodating slot.
5. The bendable display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein in
each of the buffering modules, the external connecting member has a
first limiting slot and a second limiting slot, and the internal
connecting member includes a positioning structure selectively
engaged in the first limiting slot and the second limiting
slot.
6. The bendable display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein in
the dual-shaft driving module of each of the two supporting
devices, each of the two shafts includes a driving segment, two
extension segments respectively arranged at two opposite sides of
the driving segment, and two end segments respectively arranged at
two opposite outer sides of the two extension segments; in each of
the shafts, a depth of the spiral groove is 1/5.about. 1/7 of a
maximum outer diameter of the driving segment, a projecting region
defined by orthogonally projecting the spiral groove onto a plane
in a longitudinal direction of the corresponding shaft is in an arc
shape and has a central angle less than or equal to 90 degrees.
7. The bendable display apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein in
the dual-shaft driving module of each of the two supporting
devices, the two side surfaces of the synchronizing block are two
concave surfaces, and the two driving portions respectively
protrude from bottoms of the two concave surfaces; in a cross
section of the two shafts and the synchronizing block of each of
the dual-shaft driving modules, each of the two driving segments is
substantially in a circle shape, each of the two concave surfaces
is substantially in an arc shape, and two circle centers of the two
concave surfaces are respectively arranged at two circle centers of
the two driving segments.
8. The bendable display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
each of the two supporting devices includes a positioning module;
in each of the two supporting devices, the positioning module is
fixed to the internal connecting members of the two buffering
modules, and the positioning module is configured to provide a
torsion force for enabling the dual-shaft driving module tending to
move toward the unfolded position or the outwardly folded
position.
9. The bendable display apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein
the positioning module of each of the two supporting devices
includes a housing, two springs and a fixing cam arranged in the
housing, and two rotating rods respectively and rotatably
cooperated with the fixing cam; in the positioning module of each
of the two supporting devices, an end of the two springs is fixed
on the housing, the other end of the two springs is fixed on an end
of the fixing cam, the fixing cam has two teeth portions formed on
the other end thereof, an end of the two rotating rods has two cam
portions respectively cooperated with the two teeth portions, and
the other end of the two rotating rods is fixed to the two
corresponding internal connecting members; in each of the two
supporting devices, two central axes of the two shafts respectively
overlap that of the two rotating rods.
10. A supporting device, comprising: a dual-shaft driving module
including: two shafts substantially parallel to each other, wherein
each of the two shafts has a spiral groove recessed on an outer
surface thereof and having a spiral angle within a range of 40
degrees to 60 degrees; and a synchronizing member including a
synchronizing block sandwiched between the two shafts and a
synchronizing shaft connected to the synchronizing block, wherein
the synchronizing block includes two driving portions respectively
protruding from two opposite side surfaces thereof and respectively
coupling with the spiral grooves of the two shafts, wherein when
one of the two shafts is spun to transmit a force to the
synchronizing block, the synchronizing block rotates the other
shaft at the same time by the force; and two buffering modules
respectively arranged at two opposite outer sides of the dual-shaft
hinge module and respectively installed to the two shafts, each of
the two buffering modules including: an internal connecting member
fixed on the corresponding shaft; an external connecting member
slidably disposed on the internal connecting member; and a linkage
mechanism pivotally connecting to the internal connecting member,
wherein the linkage mechanism is configured to be driven by the
synchronizing shaft for moving the external connecting member
relative to the internal connecting member; wherein the dual-shaft
driving module is bendable between an unfolded position and an
outwardly folded position; when the dual-shaft driving module is
bent from the unfolded position toward the outwardly folded
position, the supporting device is changed from a flat structure to
a curved structure, the internal members of the two buffering
modules are arranged inside the supporting device, and the external
connecting member of each of the two buffering modules is moved
toward the synchronizing member with respect to the corresponding
internal connecting member.
11. The supporting device as claimed in claim 10, wherein in the
dual-shaft driving module, an end portion of the synchronizing
shaft is fixed to the synchronizing block, and the other end
portion of the synchronizing shaft has two protrusions respectively
configured to drive the linkage mechanisms of the two buffering
modules.
12. The supporting device as claimed in claim 10, wherein in each
of the buffering modules, the linkage mechanism includes a first
link lever and a second link lever both pivotally connected to the
internal connecting member, an end of the first link lever is
pivotally connected to an end of the second link lever, the other
end of the first link lever is connected to the synchronizing
shaft, and the other end of the second link lever is connected to
the external connecting member; when the first link lever is driven
by the synchronizing shaft, the first link lever and the second
link lever are rotated relative to the internal connecting member,
and the rotation of the second link lever moves the external
connecting member relative to the internal connecting member.
13. The supporting device as claimed in claim 12, wherein in each
of the buffering modules, the internal connecting member has an
accommodating slot, and the linkage mechanism is arranged in the
accommodating slot.
14. The supporting device as claimed in claim 10, wherein in each
of the buffering modules, the external connecting member has a
first limiting slot and a second limiting slot, and the internal
connecting member includes a positioning structure selectively
engaged in the first limiting slot and the second limiting
slot.
15. The supporting device as claimed in claim 10, wherein in the
dual-shaft driving module, each of the two shafts includes a
driving segment, two extension segments respectively arranged at
two opposite sides of the driving segment, and two end segments
respectively arranged at two opposite outer sides of the two
extension segments; in each of the shafts, a depth of the spiral
groove is 1/5.about. 1/7 of a maximum outer diameter of the driving
segment, a projecting region defined by orthogonally projecting the
spiral groove onto a plane in a longitudinal direction of the
corresponding shaft is in an arc shape and has a central angle less
than or equal to 90 degrees.
16. The supporting device as claimed in claim 15, wherein in the
dual-shaft driving module, the two side surfaces of the
synchronizing block are two concave surfaces, and the two driving
portions respectively protrude from bottoms of the two concave
surfaces; in a cross section of the two shafts and the
synchronizing block, each of the two driving segments is
substantially in a circle shape, each of the two concave surfaces
is substantially in an arc shape, and two circle centers of the two
concave surfaces are respectively arranged at two circle centers of
the two driving segments.
17. The supporting device as claimed in claim 10, further
comprising a positioning module fixed to the internal connecting
members of the two buffering modules, wherein the positioning
module is configured to provide a torsion force for enabling the
dual-shaft driving module tending to move toward the unfolded
position or the outwardly folded position.
18. The supporting device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the
positioning module includes a housing, two springs and a fixing cam
arranged in the housing, and two rotating rods respectively and
rotatably cooperated with the fixing cam; an end of the two springs
is fixed on the housing, the other end of the two springs is fixed
on an end of the fixing cam, the fixing cam has two teeth portions
formed on the other end thereof, an end of the two rotating rods
has two cam portions respectively cooperated with the two teeth
portions, and the other end of the two rotating rods is fixed to
the two internal connecting members of the two buffering modules;
two central axes of the two shafts respectively overlap that of the
two rotating rods.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a display apparatus; in
particular, to a bendable display apparatus and a supporting
device.
2. Description of Related Art
[0002] When a conventional supporting device is outwardly bent, the
total length of the hinge module of the conventional supporting
device is not changed, and a plate mounted on an outer surface of
the conventional supporting device is deformed because the hinge
module stretches the plate. That is to say, when a bendable display
mounted on the outer surface of the conventional supporting device
is outwardly bent, the bendable display is easily broken because
the hinge module of the conventional supporting device stretches
the bendable display.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present disclosure provides a bendable display apparatus
and a supporting device to effectively overcome the drawbacks
associated with conventional supporting devices.
[0004] The present disclosure discloses a bendable display
apparatus, which includes two supporting devices and a bendable
display mounted on the two supporting devices. Each of the two
supporting devices includes a dual-shaft driving module and two
buffering modules. The dual-shaft driving module includes two
shafts and a synchronizing member. The two shafts are substantially
parallel to each other. Each of the two shafts has a spiral groove
recessed on an outer surface thereof and has a spiral angle within
a range of 40 degrees to 60 degrees. The synchronizing member
includes a synchronizing block sandwiched between the two shafts
and a synchronizing shaft connected to the synchronizing block. The
synchronizing block includes two driving portions respectively
protruding from two opposite side surfaces thereof and respectively
coupling with the spiral grooves of the two shafts. When one of the
two shafts is spun to transmit a force to the synchronizing block,
the synchronizing block rotates the other shaft at the same time by
the force. The two buffering modules are respectively arranged at
two opposite outer sides of the dual-shaft hinge module and are
respectively installed to the two shafts. Each of the two buffering
modules includes an internal connecting member fixed on the
corresponding shaft, an external connecting member slidably
disposed on the internal connecting member, and a linkage mechanism
pivotally connecting to the internal connecting member. The linkage
mechanism is configured to be driven by the synchronizing shaft for
moving the external connecting member relative to the internal
connecting member. In each of the two supporting devices, the
dual-shaft driving module is bendable between an unfolded position
and an outwardly folded position. When the dual-shaft driving
module is at the unfolded position, the supporting device is a flat
structure. When the dual-shaft driving module is at the outwardly
folded position, the supporting device is a curved structure and
the internal members of the two buffering modules are arranged
inside the supporting device. When the dual-shaft driving module of
each of the two supporting devices is rotated from the unfolded
position to the outwardly folded position, the bendable display is
bent while a length of the bendable display remains constant, and
the external connecting member of each of the buffering modules is
moved toward the corresponding synchronizing member with respect to
the internal connecting member.
[0005] The present disclosure also discloses a supporting device,
which includes a dual-shaft driving module and two buffering
modules. The dual-shaft driving module includes two shafts and a
synchronizing member. The two shafts are substantially parallel to
each other. Each of the two shafts has a spiral groove recessed on
an outer surface thereof and has a spiral angle within a range of
40 degrees to 60 degrees. The synchronizing member includes a
synchronizing block sandwiched between the two shafts and a
synchronizing shaft connected to the synchronizing block. The
synchronizing block includes two driving portions respectively
protruding from two opposite side surfaces thereof and respectively
coupling with the spiral grooves of the two shafts. When one of the
two shafts is spun to transmit a force to the synchronizing block,
the synchronizing block rotates the other shaft at the same time by
the force. The two buffering modules are respectively arranged at
two opposite outer sides of the dual-shaft hinge module and are
respectively installed to the two shafts. Each of the two buffering
modules includes an internal connecting member fixed on the
corresponding shaft, an external connecting member slidably
disposed on the internal connecting member, and a linkage mechanism
pivotally connecting to the internal connecting member. The linkage
mechanism is configured to be driven by the synchronizing shaft for
moving the external connecting member relative to the internal
connecting member. The dual-shaft driving module is bendable
between an unfolded position and an outwardly folded position. When
the dual-shaft driving module is bent from the unfolded position
toward the outwardly folded position, the supporting device is
changed from a flat structure to a curved structure, the internal
members of the two buffering modules are arranged inside the
supporting device, and the external connecting member of each of
the two buffering modules is moved toward the synchronizing member
with respect to the corresponding internal connecting member.
[0006] In summary, for the bendable display apparatus of the
present disclosure, when the dual-shaft driving module is bent
between the unfolded position and the outwardly folded position,
the external connecting member is moved relative to the internal
connecting member, so that the supporting device does not stretch
the bendable display. Thus, when the supporting device is applied
to support the bendable display, the bendable display can be bent
without suffering damage.
[0007] In order to further appreciate the characteristics and
technical contents of the present disclosure, references are
hereunder made to the detailed descriptions and appended drawings
in connection with the present disclosure. However, the appended
drawings are merely shown for exemplary purposes, and should not be
construed as restricting the scope of the present disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a bendable display
apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the bendable display
apparatus being bent outwardly at 180 degrees;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of FIG. 1 with a bendable display
omitted;
[0011] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a supporting device according
to the embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a planar view of a dual-shaft driving module being
bent outwardly at 180 degrees;
[0013] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the dual-shaft driving module
of FIG. 4;
[0014] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the dual-shaft driving module
of FIG. 4 from another perspective;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a driving segment of a
shaft of FIG. 6;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along a
cross-sectional line IX-IX of FIG. 4;
[0017] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along a
cross-sectional line X-X of FIG. 4;
[0018] FIG. 11 is a planar view of a buffering module when the
dual-shaft driving module is bent outwardly at 180 degrees;
[0019] FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the buffering module of FIG.
4;
[0020] FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the buffering module of FIG.
4 from another perspective;
[0021] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a positioning module when
the dual-shaft driving module is bent outwardly at 180 degrees;
and
[0022] FIG. 15 is an exploded view of the positioning module of
FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Reference is made to FIGS. 1 to 15, which illustrate the
present disclosure. References are hereunder made to the detailed
descriptions and appended drawings in connection with the present
disclosure. However, the appended drawings are merely provided for
exemplary purposes, and should not be construed as restricting the
scope of the present disclosure.
[0024] Reference is first made to FIGS. 1 to 3, which illustrate a
bendable display apparatus 1000 according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure. The bendable display apparatus 1000 includes
two supporting devices 100, a bendable display 200 mounted on the
two supporting devices 100, and two connecting members 300 fastened
to the two supporting devices 100. A portion of the bendable
display 200 (i.e., a center portion of the bendable display 200)
corresponding in position to the supporting devices 100 can be
outwardly bent at 180 degrees (as shown in FIG. 2) without
suffering damage, but the present disclosure is not limited
thereto. Moreover, the two connecting members 300 are respectively
fastened to two opposite portions of each of the two supporting
devices 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the left connecting
member 300 is fastened to the left portions of the two supporting
devices 100.
[0025] It should be noted that the movement of the bendable display
apparatus 1000 is a relative motion, so that the figures are fixed
part of the components for clearly showing the present embodiment.
Moreover, the supporting device 100 in the present embodiment is
applied to the bendable display apparatus 1000, but the supporting
device 100 can be applied to other apparatus.
[0026] The following description discloses the structure of each of
the components of the bendable display apparatus 1000, and then
discloses the related features of the components of the bendable
display apparatus 1000. The structures of the two supporting
devices 100 in the present embodiment are substantially identical
or symmetrical, so the following description discloses just one of
the two supporting devices 100 for the sake of brevity.
[0027] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the supporting device 100
includes a dual-shaft driving module 1 and two buffering modules 2
respectively arranged at two opposite outer sides of the dual-shaft
driving module 1. The dual-shaft driving module 1 includes two
shafts 11, a synchronizing member 12 sandwiched between the two
shafts 11, and two torsion washer assemblies 13 sleeved on the two
shafts 11. The following description discloses the structure and
connection of the components of the dual-shaft driving module
1.
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the two shafts 11 are
substantially parallel to each other, that is to say, a central
axis L of one of the two shafts 11 is parallel to a central axis L
of the other shaft 11. As the two shafts 11 in the present
embodiment are in a mirror symmetrical arrangement, the following
description discloses the structure of one of the two shafts 11 for
the sake of brevity.
[0029] The shaft 11 includes a driving segment 111, two extension
segments 112 respectively arranged at two opposite outer sides of
the driving segment 111 (i.e., the left side and the right side of
the driving segment 111 as shown in FIG. 6), two end segments 113,
113' respectively arranged at two opposite outer sides of the two
extension segments 112 (i.e., the left side and the right side of
the two extension segments 112 as shown in FIG. 6). The driving
segment 111 is substantially in a cylindrical structure, and a
maximum outer diameter of the driving segment 111 is a maximum
outer diameter of the shaft 11.
[0030] The shaft 11 has two spiral grooves 1111 parallel to each
other and recessed on an outer surface of the driving segment 111.
Each of the spiral grooves 1111 has a spiral angle .sigma. (as
shown in FIG. 8) within a range of 40 degrees to 60 degrees. The
spiral angle .sigma. in the present embodiment is 45 degrees, but
the present disclosure is not limited thereto. A depth D of each of
the spiral grooves 1111 (as shown in FIG. 9) is 1/5.about. 1/7 of
the maximum outer diameter of the driving segment 111, and the
depth D of each of the spiral grooves 1111 in the present
embodiment is 1/6 of the maximum outer diameter of the driving
segment 111. Moreover, a projecting region P (as shown in FIG. 8),
which is defined by orthogonally projecting each of the spiral
grooves 1111 onto a plane in a longitudinal direction of the shaft
11 (i.e., the central axis L of the shaft 11), is in an arc shape
and has a central angle al less than or equal to 90 degrees. The
central angle .sigma.1 in the present embodiment is 90 degrees, but
the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
[0031] Each of the extension segments 112 in the present embodiment
is substantially in a cylindrical structure and has an outer
diameter smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the driving
segment 111. Moreover, one of the two end segments 113, 113' (i.e.,
the end segment 113) has a non-circle cross section for inserting
into and fixing on the corresponding buffering module 2.
[0032] The following description discloses the connection between
the two shafts 11 and the other components. The two extension
segments 112 of each of the two shafts 11 are respectively inserted
into the two torsion washer assemblies 13, and the two torsion
washer assemblies 13 are respectively arranged at two opposite
outer sides of the two driving segments 111. That is to say, each
of the two torsion washer assemblies 13 is sleeved on the two
adjacent extension segments 112 arranged on the same side of the
two shafts 11, and the friction between the two torsion washer
assemblies 13 and the extension segments 112 can provide torsion to
the dual-shaft driving module 1. The relative position of the two
shafts 11 can be effectively maintained by the two torsion washer
assemblies 13.
[0033] Moreover, the two buffering modules 2 are respectively
fastened to the two end segments 113 arranged on one side of the
two shafts 11 (i.e., the left side of the two shafts 11 as shown in
FIG. 6), and the other two end segments 113' arranged on the other
side of the two shafts 11 (i.e., the right side of the two shafts
11 as shown in FIG. 6) are suspended.
[0034] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the synchronizing member 12
includes a synchronizing block 121 and a synchronizing shaft 122
connected to the synchronizing block 121. An end portion of the
synchronizing shaft 122 is fixed to the synchronizing block 121,
and the other end portion of the synchronizing shaft 122 has two
protrusions 1221 respectively configured to drive the two buffering
modules 2. It should be noted that the synchronizing block 121 and
the synchronizing shaft 122 can be integrally formed as a one-piece
structure or can be detachably installed with each other, but the
present disclosure is not limited thereto.
[0035] Moreover, the synchronizing block 121 includes two concave
surfaces 1211 arranged on two opposite sides thereof (i.e., the
front side and the rear side of the synchronizing block 121 as
shown in FIG. 6), four driving portions 1212 respectively
protruding from bottoms of the two concave surfaces 1211, and four
annular concavities 1213 respectively recessed on the two concave
surfaces 1211 and respectively arranged around the four driving
portions 1212. The four driving portions 1212 of the synchronizing
block 121 in the present embodiment are substantially in a mirror
symmetrical arrangement, but the present disclosure is not limited
thereto.
[0036] Specifically, the synchronizing block 121 is sandwiched
between the two shafts 11, and the two concave surfaces 1211
respectively face the two driving segments 111 of the two shafts
11. Each of the two concave surfaces 1211 accommodates a part of
the corresponding shaft 11, and the four driving portions 1212
formed on the two concave surfaces 1211 are respectively inserted
into the four spiral grooves 1111 of the two shafts 11.
[0037] Moreover, in order to improve the stability of the
connection between the two shafts 11 and the synchronizing block
121, the present embodiment provides the following structural
design of the two shafts 11 and the synchronizing block 121.
[0038] Specifically, in a cross section of the two shafts 11 and
the synchronizing block 121 (as shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10, which
is perpendicular to the central axis L of each of the two shafts
11), each of the two driving segments 111 is substantially in a
circle shape and each of the two concave surfaces 1211 is
substantially in an arc shape, two circle centers C2 of the two
concave surfaces 1211 are respectively arranged at two circle
centers C1 of the two driving segments 111, and a radius R2 of each
of the two concave surfaces 1211 is substantially equal to a radius
R1 of the corresponding driving segment 111. Moreover, a central
angle .sigma.2 of each of the two concave surfaces 1211 is
preferably within a range of 80 degrees to 110 degrees (i.e., the
central angle .sigma.2 is 95 degrees in the present embodiment),
but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
[0039] In addition, the number of the spiral grooves 1111 of the
shaft 11 in the present embodiment is two, and the number of the
driving portions 1212 of the synchronizing block 121 in the present
embodiment is four, but the present disclosure is not limited
thereto. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the number
of the spiral grooves 1111 of the shaft 11 can be one, the number
of the driving portions 1212 of the synchronizing block 121 can be
two, and the two driving portions 1212 of the synchronizing block
121 respectively couple with the spiral grooves 1111 of the two
shafts 11.
[0040] The structure of the dual-shaft driving module 1 has been
disclosed in the above description, and the following description
discloses the operation of the dual-shaft driving module 1. When
one of the two shafts 11 is spun to transmit a force to the
synchronizing block 121, the synchronizing block 121 rotates the
other shaft 11 at the same time by the force. Specifically, when
one of the two shafts 11 is spun (e.g., the left shaft 11 as shown
in FIG. 6), the two spiral grooves 1111 of the spun shaft 11
respectively drive the corresponding two driving portions 1212
(e.g., the left two driving portions 1212 as shown in FIG. 6) to
move therein, so that the other two driving portions 1212 (e.g.,
the right two driving portions 1212 as shown in FIG. 6) are moved
to respectively press the corresponding two spiral grooves 1111 for
rotating the other shaft 11 (e.g., the right shaft 11 as shown in
FIG. 6) at the same time. Moreover, when the two shafts 11 are
spun, the synchronizing block 121 moves straightly in a direction
parallel to the central axis L of each of the two shafts 11 (as
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5).
[0041] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 11-13, the two buffering modules 2
are respectively fastened to the two end segments 113 of the two
shafts 11. Each of the two buffering modules 2 includes an internal
connecting member 21 fixed on the end segment 113 of the
corresponding shaft 11, an external connecting member 22 slidably
disposed on the internal connecting member 21, and a linkage
mechanism 23 pivotally connecting to the internal connecting member
21 and configured to be driven by the corresponding protrusion 1221
of the synchronizing shaft 122 for moving the external connecting
member 22 relative to the internal connecting member 21. In other
words, the two protrusions 1221 of the synchronizing shaft 122 can
respectively drive the two linkage mechanisms 23 of the two
buffering modules 2. The structures of the two buffering modules 2
in the present embodiment are substantially identical or
symmetrical, so the following description only illustrates one of
the two buffering modules 2 for the sake of brevity.
[0042] It should be noted that the dual-shaft driving module 1 is
bendable between an unfolded position (as shown in FIG. 4) and an
outwardly folded position (as shown in FIG. 11). When the
dual-shaft driving module 1 is at the unfolded position, the
supporting device 100 is a flat structure. When the dual-shaft
driving module 1 is at the outwardly folded position, the
supporting device 100 is a curved structure, and the internal
members 21 of the two buffering modules 2 are arranged inside the
supporting device 100.
[0043] As shown in FIGS. 4, 12, and 13, the internal connecting
member 21 is substantially a flat structure and is fixed to the
connecting member 300. The internal connecting member 21 includes a
plate 211 and a positioning structure 212 disposed on the plate 211
and elastically movable relative to the plate 211. A part of the
positioning structure 212 protrudes from the edge of the plate 211
(i.e., a bottom edge of the plate 212 substantially perpendicular
to the shaft 11 as shown in FIG. 4). In the present embodiment, the
positioning structure 212 includes an abutting block 2121 and a
plurality of elastic members 2122 (i.e., springs) connected to the
abutting block 2121, but the present disclosure is not limited
thereto.
[0044] The plate 211 has a first fixing portion 2111, a second
fixing portion 2112 arranged at a distance to the first fixing
portion 2111, and an accommodating slot 2113. Specifically, the
first fixing portion 2111 and the second fixing portion 2112 are
arranged on one side of the plate 211 (i.e., the right side of the
plate 211 as shown in FIG. 12) adjacent to the dual-shaft driving
module 1 and the positioning module 3. The first fixing portion
2111 has a first thru-hole 2114 having a non-circle cross section
for providing the insertion of the end segment 113 of the
corresponding shaft 11. The second fixing portion 2112 has a second
thru-hole 2114 having a non-circle cross section for fixing to the
positioning module 3.
[0045] The accommodating slot 2113 is recessed from a portion of
the plate 211 between the first fixing portion 2111 and the second
fixing portion 2112 in a direction (i.e., to the left as shown in
FIG. 12) away from the dual-shaft driving module 1. The
accommodating slot 2113 is formed to accommodate the linkage
mechanism 23 and provide a space for the movement of the linkage
mechanism 23. Moreover, the corresponding protrusion 1221 of the
synchronizing shaft 122 is movably arranged in a part of the
accommodating slot 2113 between the first fixing portion 2111 and
the second fixing portion 2112.
[0046] As shown in FIGS. 4, 11, 12, and 13, the external connecting
member 22 is substantially a flat structure and is slidably sleeved
at two opposite edges of the plate 211 of the internal connecting
member 21 (i.e., a top edge and a bottom edge of the plate 212
substantially perpendicular to the shaft 11 as shown in FIG. 4). A
portion of the external connecting member 22 substantially facing
the positioning structure 212 has a first limiting slot 221 and a
second limiting slot 222 spaced apart from the first limiting slot
221. A distance between the first limiting slot 221 and the
adjacent shaft 11 is smaller than a distance between the second
limiting slot 222 and the adjacent shaft 11.
[0047] Moreover, the positioning structure 212 of the internal
connecting member 21 is selectively engaged in the first limiting
slot 221 and the second limiting slot 222. Specifically, when the
dual-shaft driving module 1 is at the unfolded position (as shown
in FIG. 4), the positioning structure 212 of the internal
connecting member 21 is engaged in the first limiting slot 221.
When the dual-shaft driving module 1 is at the outwardly folded
position (as shown in FIG. 11), the positioning structure 212 of
the internal connecting member 21 is engaged in the second limiting
slot 222.
[0048] As shown in FIGS. 4, 12, and 13, the linkage mechanism 23
includes a first link lever 231 and a second link lever 232 both
pivotally connected to the internal connecting member 21. The first
link lever 231 in the present embodiment is an elongated structure,
and a pivoting portion of the first link lever 231 between two
opposite ends thereof is pivotally connected to the plate 211 of
the internal connecting member 21, so that the first link lever 231
is rotatable along the pivoting portion relative to the plate 211
of the internal connecting member 21. The second link lever 232 in
the present embodiment is an L-shaped structure, and a corner
portion of the second link lever 232 is pivotally connected to the
plate 211 of the internal connecting member 21, so that the second
link lever 232 is rotatable along the corner portion relative to
the plate 211 of the internal connecting member 21.
[0049] Moreover, an end of the first link lever 231 is pivotally
connected to an end of the second link lever 232 (i.e., the left
end of the first link lever 231 is pivotally connected to the right
end of the second link lever 232 as shown in FIG. 12), the other
end of the first link lever 231 is connected to the corresponding
synchronizing shaft 122 (i.e., the right end of the first link
lever 231 having a clip shape clamping the corresponding protrusion
1221 of the synchronizing shaft 122 as shown in FIG. 12), and the
other end of the second link lever 232 is connected to the external
connecting member 22 (i.e., the left end of the second link lever
232 is pivotally connected to the external connecting member 22 as
shown in FIG. 12).
[0050] Thus, when the first link lever 231 is driven by the
corresponding protrusion 1221 of the synchronizing shaft 122, the
first link lever 231 and the second link lever 232 are rotated
relative to the plate 211 of the internal connecting member 21, and
the rotation of the second link lever 232 moves the external
connecting member 22 relative to the internal connecting member
21.
[0051] As shown in FIGS. 4, 14, and 15, the positioning module 3 is
fixed to the internal connecting members 21 of the two buffering
modules 2. The positioning module 3 is configured to provide a
torsion force for enabling the dual-shaft driving module 1 tending
to move toward the unfolded position or the outwardly folded
position. In the present embodiment, the positioning module 3
includes a housing 31, two springs 32 and a fixing cam 33 arranged
in the housing 31, and two rotating rods 34 respectively and
rotatably cooperated with the fixing cam 33.
[0052] Specifically, an end of the two springs 32 (i.e., the top
ends of the springs 32 as shown in FIG. 4) is fixed on the housing
31, the other end of the two springs 32 (i.e., the bottom ends of
the springs 32 as shown in FIG. 4) is fixed on an end of the fixing
cam 33 (i.e., the top end of the fixing cam 33 as shown in FIG. 4),
and the fixing cam 33 has two teeth portions 331 formed on the
other end thereof (i.e., the bottom end of the fixing cam 33 as
shown in FIG. 4).
[0053] Moreover, an end of the two rotating rods 34 (i.e., the left
end of the rotating rods 34 as shown in FIG. 15) has two cam
portions 341 arranged in the housing 31 and respectively cooperated
with the two teeth portions 331, and the other end of the two
rotating rods 34 (i.e., the bottom end of the rotating rods 34 as
shown in FIG. 4) is fixed to the second fixing portions 2112 of the
two corresponding internal connecting members 21. The two central
axes L of the two shafts 11 respectively overlap that of the two
rotating rods 34.
[0054] Thus, when the dual-shaft driving module 1 is rotated and is
not at the unfolded position and the outwardly folded position, the
two cam portions 341 of the two rotating rods 34 respectively press
and move the two teeth portions 331 of the fixing cam 33 (i.e., the
cam portion 341 abuts against a slanting surface of the teeth
portion 331), so that the fixing cam 33 presses the two springs 32
to generate the torsion force for enabling the two cam portions 341
of the two rotating rods 34 tending to move away from the two teeth
portions 331 (i.e., the two cam portions 341 of the two rotating
rods 34 tend to move toward the slots each formed on any two tooth
of the teeth portion 331 as shown in FIG. 15). In other words, the
positioning module 3 can move the dual-shaft driving module 1
toward the unfolded position and the outwardly folded position.
[0055] The structure and connection of the supporting device 100 in
the present embodiment have been disclosed in the above
description, and the following description discloses the operation
of the bendable display apparatus 1000. Specifically, when the
dual-shaft driving modules 1 of the bendable display apparatus 1000
are rotated from the unfolded position (as shown in FIG. 1) to the
outwardly folded position (as shown in FIG. 2) at the same time,
the bendable display 200 is bent while a length of the bendable
display 200 remains constant, and the external connecting member 22
of each of the buffering modules 2 is moved toward the
corresponding synchronizing member 12 with respect to the internal
connecting member 21.
[0056] In summary, for the bendable display apparatus 1000 of the
present embodiment, when the dual-shaft driving module 1 is bent
between the unfolded position and the outwardly folded position,
the external connecting member 22 is moved relative to the internal
connecting member 21, so that the supporting device 100 does not
stretch the bendable display 200. Thus, when the two supporting
devices 100 support the bendable display 200, the bendable display
200 can be bent without suffering damage.
[0057] Moreover, the dual-shaft driving module 1 of each of the two
supporting devices 100 cannot be bent from the unfolded position
toward a position away from the outwardly folded position by the
structural design of each of the two supporting devices 100 (i.e.,
the positioning module 3 or the cooperation of the positioning
structure 212 and the first and second limiting slots 221, 222), so
that the damage caused by inwardly bending the bendable display 200
can be avoided.
[0058] The descriptions illustrated supra set forth simply the
preferred embodiments of the present disclosure; however, the
characteristics of the present disclosure are by no means
restricted thereto. All changes, alterations, or modifications
conveniently considered by those skilled in the art are deemed to
be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure
delineated by the following claims.
* * * * *